Condenser for steam-engines



(No Model.)

P. B. PERKINS.

CONDENSER FOR STEAM ENGINES.

Pa. edJune 16, 1885 N. PEYERS, mwumo m, WnJIinglnn. n. c,

UNITED STATES EFicE.

PATENT CONDENSER FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

JIECIFIGATJLUN conning part of Letters Patent No. 320,087, dated June 16, 1885.

Application filed April 22, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL B. PERKINS, of North Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Condensers forSteam-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip; tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in condensers for steam-engines.

The object of my invention is to provide a condenser which will effect a complete condensation of steam and vapor without the aid of an air-pump, and which shall be of a simple and comparatively inexpensive, construction.

XVith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing is a view of the condenser in vertical section, showing its use in connection with a system of waterworks.

The casing of the condenser consists, preferably, of an elongated cylinder, A, and stands upright upon one end. The bottom of the cylinder is closed by a solid head, a. The upper end of the cylinder is provided with a shallow water-chamber, B, having a perforated bot tom, Z), and water-tight top O,which also forms the upper head of the cylinder A.

The cold-water pipe D opens into the chamber B through the top 0, and is provided with a cutoff valve, (1, to regulate the flow of water into the said chamber. The cold-water pipe leads from a tank or any suitable reservoir having the required head, as usual.

The exhauststeam from the steam-cylinder enters the condenser a short distance below the perforated bottom of the chamber B, and immediately comes in contact with the cold finely-divided jets or spray from the chamber B, and becomes in a great measure condensed thereby.

To further etfect condensation, two perforated plates, E and F, are secured within the cylinder A, transversely thereto, and sufficiently far apart to afford abundant room for the commingling of the spray and steam. The plates E and F are provided with enlarged (No model.)

steanrpassages eand f, respectively,the former located near the edge of the plate E,opposite the entrance of the exhauststeam, and the latter near the opposite edge of the plate F, thereby inducing the current of uncondensed steam to pass across the cylinder A,between the bottom of the cold-water chamber and the plate E, and back again across the cylinder between the plates E and F.

The cold spray is checked inits descent by the plates E and F, and while the steam is traversing back and forth within the cylinder is constantly coming in contact with it and completing its condensation. Below the plate F a funnel-shaped partition, G, is secured,and provided at its apex with a spout, 9, opening into the hot-water chamber H at the bottom of the condenser.

A cone-valve, I, is adapted to open and close the spout g, and is provided with astem, 'i, which'extends upwardly through the head of the cylinder A. The stem 1' is threaded to register with a stationary nut, 70, secured to the cylinder-head, and has a hand-wheel secured on its upper end for operating the valve. By means of the valve I the commingled water and condensed steam are allowed to pass into the hot-water chamber H in such quantity as is found desirable.

The vapor which arises from the surface of th e water in the hot-water chamber is condensed by means of a pipe, L, extending upwardly therefrom into a cold water tank. (Not shown.) The pipe L has a closed top, and is preferably located for a considerable distance within a pipe, L, containing cold water; or it may be kept cool by any convenient and approved means. The vapor from the hot-water chamber II naturally rises in the pipe L, and being condensed by contact with the cold pipe descends in the form of water into the chamber H, thereby tending to produce a vacuum in the pipe and causing the vapor to more rapidly ascend. The circulation thus kept up effectually condenses the vapor in the hot-water chamber,and entirely does away with the necessity of using an air-pump.

The feed-water pipe I leads from the chamber H to the boiler, and an overflow-pipe, N, is provided for keeping the liquid in the chant ber H at or below the proper point.

ICO

resorted to in the construction of the several,

, parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I dov not wish to limitmyself strictly to the construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the outer casing, the cold-water chamber located in the upper portion thereof having a perforated bottom, and the exhaust-steam entrance located at the side of the casing a short distance below the cold-water chamber, of one or more perforated plates located'below the exhaust-entrance and provided with enlarged steam-passageslocated at or near the edge of the plate opposite the entrance of the steam,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the cold-water I chamber located in the upper portion of the casing and the exhaust-steam entrance, of two or more perforated plates located transversely within the casing and provided with enlarged steam-passages, and a funnel-shaped partition provided with a valved opening, substantially as set forth. a

3. The combination, with the several perforated plates secured within the casing and provided with the enlarged steam-passages for causing the steam to traverse back and forth during its descentwithin the casing, of a Water-ehamberlocated in the upper portion of the casing, a funnel-shaped partition located below the perforated plates and provided with an opening into the hot-water chamber, and a valve for regulating the flow of water and condensed steam through the said opening into the hot-water chamber, substantially as set forth.

4. In a steam-condenser, the combination, with the hot-water chamber, of a closed-top pipe leading upwardly therefrom, and means for keeping the pipe cool, substantially as set forth. I

5. The steam -eondenser consistingessentially of the cold-water chamber, the perforated plates with their steam-passages, the funnel-shaped partition with its valved opening, and the vapor-condensing pipe leading from the hot-water chamber, the whole constructed substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL B. PERKINS.

W'it-nesses:

I. F. BATH,. G. A. RAMSEY. 

